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When buying a dishwasher, you need to think about what means to take so that it works properly. In this article, we will tell you why you need dishwasher salt. We suggest you decide for yourself whether to use it or not, and if you use it, then how and in what quantities.
Salt composition for PMM
To understand why and how salt is used in the dishwasher, it is worth finding out the features of its composition. Consider what this tool consists of.
Looking at a pack of a well-known brand – Finish or Somat, we will see among the components sodium chloride – NaCl, the sodium salt of hydrochloric acid. The “folk” name is cooking, this substance is part of the product in the amount of 98%. Despite the fact that it consists of ordinary edible salt, it cannot be replaced with a special tool. The substance processed by special technology is larger in structure and more homogeneous.
Operating principle
Why is it worth pouring treated NaCl into the PMM? This is due to factors such as water hardness. Not the softest and optimal in composition water flows from the water pipes – you can verify this by looking at the scale layer in an ordinary kettle. Calcium and magnesium are converted to scale when water is heated. And if this does not harm the kettle (and it is easy to clean it), then such “deposits” are undesirable for expensive equipment: the heating element will fail prematurely. To soften the water in the design of the machine there is a container filled with ionized resin.
How does it work? Passing through the resin, the water softens due to the action of negatively charged sodium ions – they neutralize the negative effect of positively charged magnesium and calcium ions. After passing through the ion exchanger, water enters the tank with other indicators of hardness.
In the process of using the dishwasher, the resin exhausts the resource of useful action. To restore the functionality of this dishwasher assembly, sodium ions are added to the resin – these particles are in the preparation discussed here. If you ignore the recommendation and refuse to buy salt, the ion exchanger will exhaust its resource, and the water will be hard. And this means: “Farewell, TEN!”.
Conclusion – why add salt:
- for water softening;
- to prevent the formation of limescale (scale) on the heating element and tank;
- for better dishwashing performance – some detergent actives only work in soft water.
Users often ask:
- Is salt necessary?
- Can PMM be used without it?
- Will the dishwasher work without salt, and for how long?
There is only one answer to these and other questions: yes, salt is definitely needed. No need to spend half your salary on expensive funds – you can vary the amount and type of drug, based on the situation. If the water is relatively soft (you can check with special test strips – they are given away for free by manufacturers such as Calgon), then salt may be included in small amounts in the detergent. If the water is too hard, salt should be used separately.
Detailed instructions: how to know if your water is hard or not.
Important! If, at high water hardness, the agent is not poured directly into the ion exchanger tank, it will clog over time, which will lead to serious damage.
Some dishwashers have a feature that allows you to redirect water around the ion exchanger when using detergent capsules containing salt. This method of water supply will not affect the health of the unit.
How do you know when it’s time to add a remedy? In modern models, when the drug is depleted, a special light bulb lights up. The amount of salt is determined based on the degree of water hardness: the harder it is, the more granules need to be poured. When using tablets or capsules, do not worry about the amount of salt required – each tablet already contains enough NaCl for one washing cycle.
What kind of salt to use: food or special
An even more pressing question from users is whether it is possible to buy ordinary table salt and not spend money on an expensive imported analogue. Despite the fact that the composition coincides almost completely, there is a difference:
- The granules differ in appearance and size.
- Table salt goes through fewer degrees of purification than special salt. Household salt may contain grains of sand and components that settle on parts and surfaces, which will affect the functionality and serviceability of the device not from the best side.
- The usual dissolves at a slower rate, unlike the special one.
If you decide to replace a purchased product with a regular analogue, give preference to the Extra brand – it is processed more carefully. When backfilling, make sure there are no extra impurities, lumps and pebbles.
Attention! When pouring ordinary salt into the machine, make sure that its level does not reach the top – there is a risk that dissolution will be difficult and the substance will stick together into a lump.
Find out, What else can you substitute for salt?.
What is dishwasher salt
In the departments of household chemicals, a large number of different salts are sold from low, medium and high price categories. How do they differ and which one to choose? We offer a brief overview of the leading brands.
Finish
The owners of a washing machine or dishwasher are familiar with this manufacturer firsthand. The brand produces various rinses, powders and tablets of the “3 in 1” type. Its advantage is excellent performance at an affordable price. A pack of 1,5 kg costs 200-300 rubles – this will be enough for long-term use (up to 3 months). Basic properties:
- makes water softer, prevents scale formation on the heater;
- improves the quality of washing;
- prevents the appearance of unpresentable smudges.
Judging by customer reviews, Finish is one of the most effective products on the market. Read a detailed review of Finish salts.
Magic Power
Means from a low price category with excellent performance indicators. For 1,5 kg you will give about 150 rubles. Due to the large size of the crystals, the consumption of the drug is economical.
Please note: how long this volume will last depends on the degree of water hardness – the higher it is, the stronger the consumption.
The substance softens water, improves the quality of the washing process, and prevents the heating element from overgrowing. This brand also produces detergent tablets that are used for the same purposes. The main thing is that your PMM model provides for the possibility of using 3 in 1 tools.
Sodasan
Regenerating agent with purified and evaporated table salt in the composition, without unnecessary components. This environmental friendliness can result in the fact that the quality of washing will decrease significantly. Packing in packs weighing 2 kg, costing about 500 rubles. Economical consumption will allow you to use such a pack for a year, given the level of hardness of the water in your water supply.
Important! Often, products marked “ECO” and “BIO” are overrated, since the composition is still ordinary NaCl.
Yplon
Rare but worthwhile brand. Economic packs of 4 kg cost no more than 500 rubles. The composition allows the product to reliably deal with hard water and prevents drips.
How much to pour
New users are wondering – how much salt to put in the dishwasher? It’s simple: NaCl needs exactly as much as will fit in the container allotted for it. The exact weight and volume are not indicated, because in each specific model the volume and capacity of the tank are different.
PMM takes as many pellets as it needs for each cycle. This volume is calculated by the automatic program for determining the hardness of water (or by user-defined values).
Important! Do not mix granules with detergent.
Learn more about how to calculate volume, read in a separate article.
Where to pour salt
Didn’t find a special container? There is nothing complicated about this: the compartment is usually located on the side of the bottom of the PMM. Open the hatch, take out the boxes for dishes, find the tank and pour the salt powder into it using a funnel (so as not to scatter). To find out if the substance dissolves or not, after several washing cycles, look into the container and check if the level has decreased.
If you want to read detailed instructions, take a look at the article, which disassembled, where and how to add salt.
Now you know everything about salt – operate your machine at full capacity. The main thing is to follow the operating rules, listen to our advice and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.